Shares of ShangPharma (NYSE:SHP) pop following word that a group of investors wants to take it private, offering $8.50 to $9.50 per ADS. A special committee is being created by which to evaluate the bid.

TeleCommunication Systems (NASDAQ:TSYS) purchases microDATA GIS, which supplies next-generation 9-1-1 call-management procedures, at a price of $37 million, of which $20 million consists of up-front cash. An $80 million credit facility has been obtained by the buyer, whose existing E9-1-1 call-routing solutions current support more than half of all emergency calls.

Vivendi (VIVHY.PK) is seeking a buyer for its 61 percent investment in Activision (NASDAQ:ATVI), as was announced last week, and is said to be working with an investment bank for evaluation of the stake. Also reported is that the bankers are “sounding out” technology and media firms such as Tencent, Time Warner, and Microsoft, as well as private equity firms. The divestiture of the investment is crucial to Vivendi’s restructuring plans, but a finding a suitor for the $13.3 billion company could be problematic, and many observers believe that a spin-off is more likely.